09.11.2005

Volgaburmash Back To Winning Ways

BC Volgaburmash had to sweat it out but they finally put away a determined USO Mondeville Basket 74-61 to avoid a second upset in as many weeks.

		Ann Wauters

MiZo Pecs pulled off the shock result in the last round when they beat the defending champions from Samara 80-68 and late on against Mondeville, the Russians looked as if they could be set for another fall.

When Amelie Pochet received a pass from Emilija Podrug and buried a jumpshot for the first points of the fourth quarter, the French side trailed only 54-52.

But Belgian center Ann Wauters, who had 22 points in the game, answered immediately for Volgaburmash.

She made back-to-back jumpers for a six-point advantage and the home side was on its way to victory.

Podrug did keep the pressure on, hitting another jump shot to pull Mondeville to within 56-52, but they would get no closer.

Belgian international Wauters was outstanding. She made 11 of 16 from the floor and she also pulled down eight rebounds.

It was on the boards, in fact, where Volgaburmash really dominated this game.

Not surprising, Maria Stepanova had 13 of those rebounds to go along with her 12 points.

They grabbed 46 rebounds to 25 for their French opponents.

Mondeville showed tremendous fight because early in the second half, a Svetlana Abrosimova basket had left the visitors trailing 44-28.

They battled their way back, going on a 10-0 to close to within 48-44 but their comeback ultimately fell short.

Grace Daley had 22 points in defeat for Mondeville, who suffered their first setback in three EuroLeague Women games.

The Russian team travels to Prague next week to take on USK Praha, while MiZo-Pecs entertain MiZo-Pecs.